Greece and Azerbaijan are seeking to expand their economic relationship beyond the energy sector, with the two countries discussing new opportunities in trade, investment, infrastructure, transportation, digital technology, agriculture and tourism.
The discussions took place in Athens during the sixth session of the Joint Interministerial Committee on Economic, Industrial, and Technological Cooperation that took place in between Greece and Azerbaijan, alongside a business conference involving companies and organizations from both countries.
The conference was the first such event between Greece and Azerbaijan since 2013 and was organized by the Greek Foreign Ministry’s General Secretariat for International Economic Relations, Enterprise Greece and Azerbaijan’s Export and Investment Promotion Agency, AZPROMO.
More than 100 business meetings
The conference was opened by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Haris Theoharis and Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.
Presentations followed on opportunities for business and investment cooperation, with dozens of companies and organizations from the two countries taking part. More than 100 business-to-business meetings were held to explore specific investment and trade opportunities.
During their bilateral meeting, Theoharis and Shahbazov discussed prospects for further developing economic relations, focusing on energy, trade, investment and connectivity.
Energy remains a strategic priority
The two sides placed particular emphasis on the strategic role of energy cooperation and Greece’s position as a gateway from the South Caucasus to the European market.
They also discussed opportunities to strengthen energy and transportation connections linking Europe with the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
At the same time, the countries examined ways to expand cooperation in agriculture and food production, infrastructure, digital technologies, renewable energy and tourism.
The two sides also discussed strengthening the Athens-Baku air connection, which was presented as a factor that could support both business contacts and tourism flows.
Broader cooperation agenda
During the plenary session of the joint interministerial committee, co-chaired by Theoharis and Shahbazov, the two sides reviewed progress since their previous meeting, which was held in Baku two years ago.
The agenda covered trade and investment, industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and food, as well as road, maritime, port and air transportation.
Digital technologies, space, the environment and cooperation between the customs authorities of the two countries were also discussed.
The talks concluded with the signing of the Protocol of the Sixth Session and the Greece-Azerbaijan Joint Action Program for Tourism 2026-2028.
The tourism program provides for joint initiatives on sustainable tourism, digitalization and innovation, investment and tourism education, establishing a framework for cooperation in the sector over the next two years.
